What’s Next for the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers after Their Losses in the AFC and NFC Title Games?

The Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers advanced deeper into the 2022 NFL Playoffs than all but two teams in the league. They’re likely still recovering from disappointment about not making it a step further.

The Chiefs, who had played in two straight Super Bowls entering this season, looked to be on the verge of making a third one. 

Kansas City had an 11-point halftime lead against the underdog Cincinatti Bengals in the AFC Championship game. The Bengals held the Chiefs to just three second-half points and pulled off a shocking overtime upset, ending Kansas City’s season. 

The 49ers had a similarly frustrating second half performance. They led the Los Angeles Rams 10-7 at halftime and 17-7 entering the fourth quarter, but the Rams scored 13 points in the fourth to pull off the comeback win and advance to the Super Bowl.

Both teams are now entering their offseasons confident that they’re close to contending for a championship but also with significant issues to fix to take that next step. Here’s what each team needs as their seasons end.

Kansas City

Kansas City has an incredible offense, and their core players — quarterback Patrick Mahomes, receivers Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman, and tight end Travis Kelce — should all be back next season, creating another potent attack. 

The biggest help on offense would be improved health at the running back position. Clyde Edwards-Helaire is a dynamic presence in both the running and passing game, but he’s missed 10 regular season games over the past two seasons due to injury.

The Chiefs revamped their offensive line last offseason after Mahomes was under constant pressure in last season’s Super Bowl. He was sacked just 28 times this season, but continuing to ensure their franchise quarterback is protected should be a priority.

The team could use more depth in its group of receivers as well, and despite his high-profile performances, Mahomes is still a young quarterback, so reigning in his risk-taking just a tad could help as well. 

The biggest issue for Kansas City is the defense, though. Star safety Tyrann Mathieu is a free agent. He’s also getting older. He wants to stay with the Chiefs and the team has called signing him a top priority, but they also need to add more depth in their secondary, especially if Mathieu signs with a new team.

They also have to improve their pass rush, which will also help their secondary. The team was 29th in the league in sacks this season, and their best pass rusher, Melvin Ingram, is a free agent. 

This postseason proved that the Chiefs can’t rely on Mahomes’ magic alone to take them to deep playoff runs. With Josh Allen and Joe Burrow emerging as stars, plus players like Justin Herbert on the cusp of stardom, Mahomes will have plenty of competitors in the franchise quarterback department competing for Super Bowls in future seasons.

San Francisco

The biggest question for the 49ers is when, not if, they move on from the quarterback who nearly took them to the Super Bowl for the second time in his career this season.

When the 49ers drafted Trey Lance in the first round of last year’s NFL Draft, it was clear the team would be moving on from Jimmy Garoppolo at some point. After the Niners were eliminated from the playoffs, the team said as much, noting that they’d work with Garoppolo to find a trade for him this offseason.

Garoppolo is a known commodity, but that’s the problem. He’s a solid game manager, but that’s what he’s shown his ceiling to be. 

That would still be a huge upgrade for several teams, so expect the 49ers to pick up an asset or two for him.

The team’s strength will continue to be its defense, but if Lance can show more dynamic playmaking potential than his predecessor and pair with Deebo Samuel and George Kittle to make more big plays, San Francisco could quickly emerge as a solid Super Bowl bet next season.